Stereotype-metal pump



H. F. BECHMAN S'I'BREOTYPB IIETAL' PUIP Filed'June 29, 1922 April 21, 1925.

Patented A r; 21 1925.

UNITED STATES 1,534,492 PATENT OFFICE.

' Bunny 1*. nncnman, or BATTLE annex, MICHIGAN, nsslcnon T DUPLEX ram!- ING PRESS COMPANY, OF BATTLE CREEK, MIOHIGANQ A. CORPORATION 01 MICE-I GAN- Application filed June 29,

To all whom it may concern:

this speci cation. A i

This invention is a novel improvement in pumps for pumping molten metal or the like, and is particularly designed for pumping molten .stereotypemetal from an ordinary melting pot into the stereotype plate casting boxes or molds.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide a pump which will supply-a uniform amount of molten metal at each operation re urdless of minor variations in the level 0 the molten metal in the pot. Also to provide a pump whereby the amount of metal pumped at each operation can be accurately regulated; also to provide a pump which will be practically self-cleaning, and

not liable to clog or choke.

I will explain .theinvention as embodied in a pump for pumping molten stereotype metal, to enable others to readily understand, adopt and use the invention; but I do-not consider the inventionlimited to pumps for molten metal, as it is capable of being-utilized in pumps for other fluids. In theclaims following the description the essentials of the invention, the novel features of construction, and novel combinations of parts, for all of which protection is desired, are sum- .marized.

In said drawings:

Fig.1 is a sectional view 'of the pump in operative position on an ordinary melting pot. r a

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing the pump discharging fluid.

' In the construction shown the pump comprises a vertically reoiprocable cylinder or .lad1e2, open at its upper end and closed at bottom, which is connected to and suspended on the .o'wer end of a rod 2 that extends upwardly through an axial opening in the I pump piston 3, and through the tubular stem of said piston, and its upper end is guided in an eye on the upper end of a bracket 5, which STEREOTYPE-METAL some.

1922. Serial No. 571,689..

connection with a suitable furnace for me1ting metal for casting stereotype plates.

The ladle may be guided in its vertical movements by an annular skimmer and ladle'guide 7 which is attached to the under side of the inwardly extending portion of the bracket 6, and is provided. with interior radially disposed lugs 7 adapted to engage the exterior surface of the ladle and guide the same in its rising and falling movements.

The ladle can be raised or lowered by any suitable means. As shown, its supporting rod 2 has a rack 2" on its upper-end which is engaged by a pinion 4* on a. shaft 4 one end of which is journ'aled in the upper end of the bracket 5, and its other end is supported on a bracket 5 attached to the top of the pot, or other suitable support, in line The pump piston 3 is of. such diameter as to fit neatly and closely within the interior of the ladle 2 when entered therein. This piston is preferably slightly concaved on its under side and has a central opening which communicates with the bore of 'a tubular stem 3 by which the piston is connected to the under side of the inwardly ex tending portion of the bracket 6. The piston 3 and stem 3*v are in axial 'alinement with the ladle 2 and the rod 2 extends axial- 1yl through the piston and stem 3, and t rough an opening 6 in the end of the bracket 6 to which the stem 3" is attached. Mounted upon the bracket 6 above the sleeve 3 is as out 8 which has an opening in the under side of its rear end communieating with the opening 6, and an opening in its u per side for the passage of the stem spout projects outwardly and inclines downwardly to its mouth so that the molten metal may be discharged from the spout into a casting" box or other suitable receiver, not shown. v

In this invention the piston is stationary and the cylinder or ladle is reci rocated.- The parts are so arranged that t e lower portion of the annular skimmer and ladle guide 7 will be below the level of the molten metal in the pot; and theladle when in its lowermost position (as shown in Fig. 1) will also be below the lowermost practical level of the molten metal in the pot. In its lowered position the up er end "of the ladle lies withln the lower end of the guide 7, and below the fixed piston 3 as shown in Fig. 1. The lu s 7 guide the ladle, and ample space is left etween the lugs for the free passage of the molten metal from beneath upwardly into the annular skimmer and guide 7, and thence into the ladle. By this construction the surface metal is excluded from the ladle 3 by the annular skimmer-guide 7, the ladle being filled by molten metal which flows upwardly from beneath the skimmer-guide into the skimmer-guide and up over the upper edge of the ladle into the latter. By withdrawing the metal from below the surface of the metal in the pot no dross' or scum floating on the surface will enter the ladle.

- The amount of metal pumped at each full upward stroke of the ladle is always the same, regardless of the level of the metal in the pot,unless it falls below the minimum limit of the level of molten metal; this limit being the top of the ladle when inits lowest position, as shown-in Fig. 1. J

' Suitable means are provided for limiting the reciprocatory movements of the ladle. As shown, a collar 2 on rod 2 is adapted to engage the bracket 5, and limit the upward movement of the rod and ladle; and a collar 2 on rod 2 is adapted to engage the top of the spout 8 and limit the downward movement of the rod and ladle, see Fig. 1. By adjusting the said collars or stops the amount of metal discharged at each operation of the pump can be accurately regulated, so that just the amount of metal reqllliired for the work in hand will be disc arged at each operation.

When used for pumping molten metal the pump is self-skimming. The ladle is filled only with the purest and best of the molten metal and if in any interval between operations of the pum any slight scum should form on the surihce of the metal in the annulus this scum would drop ofl' and would not enter the ladle, because as the ladle rises the metal in the annulus is displaced, the metal in the annulus above the ladle overflowing the sides of the ladle and passing down the outside of the ladle into the pot as the ladle rises; When the ladle ascends any scum formed in the annulus will be projected out of it by the ladle.

The bore of the fixed stem of the piston d is preferably tapered as shown and the spout is inclined so that there is no place for molten metalsto lodge and chill, and the pump fluid passages will remain clean. The

for pumping other fluids.

What I claim is: 1. In a pump, a reciprocable ladle, a stationary piston, means for moving the ladle to telescope the piston and thereby discharge the fluid from the ladle; and a member surrounding the ladle whereby the fluid is caused to flow upwardly between the memher and the ladle in order to enter the ladle.

2. A pump comprising a ladle having an open upper end, a piston fixed above the ladle having a discharge opening, means for moving the ladle toward the piston to force the fluid from the ladle through the opening in the piston; means for directing fluid from said opening to the point of discharge; and a member surrounding the ladle whereby the fluid is caused to flow u wardly between the member and the ladle in order to enter the .ladle.

3. In a pump, a reciprocable ladle, a sta- I tionary piston having an axial opening, a tubular stem supporting the piston; means ,for moving the ladle to telescope the piston and thereby discharge the fluid from the ladle through the piston and stem; and a member surrounding the ladle whereby the fluid is caused to flow upwardly between the annulus and the ladle in order to enter the ladle.

4. In combination with a fluid container, a ladle having an open upper end and closed at bottom, a piston fixed above the ladle and having a dischargeopening; means for causing the ladle to telescope the piston and eject the flilid from the ladle through the opening in the piston; means for directing the fluid from said opening to the point of discharge; and an annular member surrounding the ladle and having its lower end the liquid whereby the fluid is caused to flow upwardly between the member and the ladle in order to enter the ladle.

5. In combination with a metal melting submerged in pot; a ladle open at its upper end and closed at bottom; a stationary piston above the open end of the ladle having a discharge 'means for conducting the molten metal from the opening in'the piston to the point of ischarge; and a member surrounding the ladle whereby the fluid is caused to 'fiowupwardly between the member and the ladle in order to enter the ladle.

SJIn a metal pump, a pot, a reciprocable said piston/having ladle therein, a stationary piston located above the level of the pot, andmeans for moving the ladle to telescope the piston and thereby discharge the molten metal from the ladle.

7. In a pump as set forth in claim 6, a member surrounding the ladle whereby the fluid is caused to flow upwardly between the member and the ladle in order to enter the ladle.

8. A metal pump comprising a pot, a ladle having an open upper end, a piston located and fixed above the level of the fluid and above the ladle when the latter is lowered, -a discharge opening, means for moving theladle toward the piston to force the fluid from the ladle through the openin in the piston, and means for directing uid from said opening to the point of discharge.

9. In a pump, as set forth in claim 8, a member surrounding the ladle whereby the fluid is caused to flow upwardly between the member and the ladle in order to enter the ladle.

10. In a metal pump, a pot, a reciprocable ladle, a stationary piston having an" axial opening, said piston being located above the level of the molten metal in the pot, a tubular stem supporting the piston, and means for moving the fluid from the ladle through the piston and stem, substantially as described.

11. In a pump as set forth in claim 10, a member surrounding the ladle whereby the fluid is caused to flow upwardly between the annulus and the ladle in order to enter the ladle. 1

12. In combination with a metal melting pot, a ladle having an openupper end and closed at bottom, and normally submerged in the fluid, a piston fixedly located above the level of the metal in the pot and above the ladle when the latter is submerged, said piston having a discharge opening;'means for causing the ladle to telescope the piston and eject the fluid from the ladle through the openingl in the iston; and means for directing t efluid rom said opening to the point of'discharge. V

13. In combination with mechanism as set forth in claim 12,, an annular member surrounding the ladle and havin its lower end submerged in the liquid w ereby the fluid is caused to flow.- upwardly between the member/and the ladle in order to enter the ladle. I

14. In combination with a metal melting molten metal in the the open end of the of discharge,

pot; a ladle adapted to be submerged in the pot and open at its upper end and closed at bottom; a stationary piston located above the level of the metal in the pot, andabove ladle when the latter is lowered, said piston having a discharge openin means for raising the ladle to telee scope t e piston and force the metal therein to escape and means for conducting the 'molten metal from the opening in the piston to the point of discharge. 7

15. In combination with mechanism as set forth in claim 14, the ladle whereby the fluid is caused to flow upwardly between the member and the ladle in order to enter the ladle.

16. In combination, open upper end and closed at bottom, and adapted to be, normally submerged in the fluid to .be pumped; a piston fixed above the ladle and fluid level and having a ischa-rge opening; means for causing the ladle to telescope the piston and eject the fluid from the ladlethrough the opening in the piston; means for directing the fluid from said opening to the point of discharge; and a skimming annulus surrounding the piston and ladle and having its lower end submerged in the fluid; whereby the fluid is caused to pass upwardly between the annulus and the ladle in order to enter the ladle. 17 In combination, a ladle adapted to be submerged and open at its upper end and closed at bottom; a stationary xpiston above the open end of the ladle having a discharge opening; means for raising the ladle to telescope the piston and force the metal therein to escape through the opening in the piston, a spout for conducting the molten metal from the opening in the piston to the point and an annulus surrounding the piston and ladle" whereby the fluid is caused to flow upwardly between the annulus and the ladle inorder to enter the ladle. V

18. In a pump having a ladle and a relatively movable piston, means whereby the fluid is caused to pass upwardly around the ladle in order to enter it.

19. In a pump, a reciprocable ladle, a stationary piston, and means whereby the fluid is caused to pass upwardly between the member and the ladle in order to enter it.

through the opening in the piston,

a member surrounding a ladle having an 

